We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Effects of a microplastic exposure gradient on juvenile lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush)
Summary
Researchers exposed newly hatched lake trout to a gradient of three microplastic types over 12 weeks, assessing growth, survival, and physiological biomarkers. Microplastic exposure caused dose-dependent effects on early life stage fish, with polymer type influencing the pattern of harm.
Growing evidence shows that microplastics have adverse impacts on fishes, but responses at the early life stages of common sportfishes are largely unknown. During a 12-week experiment, newly-hatched lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) were exposed to three types of microplastics (polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene tetraphthalate) varying in buoyancy across a range of nominal concentrations (0, 2, 35, 315, and 22465 particles/L). Microplastics included common chemical additives (metals, antioxidants and UV-stabilizers. We also included a treatment at the highest concentration to evaluate potential differences between chemical and physical effects. Concentrations in muscle tissue and gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of fish scaled positively with concentrations of microplastics. At the highest concentrations, mean counts of plastics were significantly greater in fish exposed to additives than those without. Overall, high-density polyethylene tetraphthalate (PET) was observed more commonly in fish muscle and GI tracts than polystyrene. Behavioural analysis showed that this was because juvenile lake trout spent most of their time at the bottoms of tanks, where they would have been more likely to encounter negatively-buoyant PET. Lake trout routine metabolism increased with increasing microplastic concentrations and was significantly greater than the control at the highest additive-plastic exposure concentration. Mean final mass of fish was slightly greater—and observed feeding lower—at moderate exposures or microplastics compared to control and high exposures. Proteomic analyses of exposed lake trout indicated changes in lake trout related to metabolism, cell signaling, oxidative stress, chemical exposure, and immune function. Overall, our study demonstrated significant MP accumulation in larval lake trout corresponding to their relative position in the water column, as well as some evidence of both metabolic impacts which could alter energy allocation to growth and reproduction later in life. Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/558584/document
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Effects of a microplastic exposure gradient on juvenile lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush)
Researchers exposed newly hatched lake trout for 12 weeks to three types of microplastics, polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate, at a gradient of concentrations to assess effects on early life stages of this important sportfish. Microplastic exposure caused growth and developmental effects in juvenile lake trout, with responses varying by polymer type and concentration.
Effects of different types of primary microplastics on early life stages of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Researchers examined the effects of polystyrene, PET, and polyethylene microplastics on rainbow trout early life stages over 69 days, finding elevated stress hormones and DNA damage despite no significant changes in hatching success or larval survival.
Decreased growth and survival in small juvenile fish, after chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastic
Researchers exposed juvenile glassfish to environmentally realistic concentrations of both virgin and harbor-collected microplastics for 95 days, finding that fish in plastic-fed groups grew significantly less in length, depth, and mass, and had lower survival probability than controls.
Effects of chronic exposure to microplastics of different polymer types on early life stages of sea trout Salmo trutta
Sea trout embryos and larvae were exposed to polystyrene, PET, and polyethylene microplastics for 113 days and showed no effects on survival or hatching, but all polymer types induced genotoxicity (nuclear abnormalities in red blood cells), with polystyrene causing the greatest DNA damage.
Polystyrene microparticles can affect the health status of freshwater fish – Threat of oral microplastics intake
Researchers fed juvenile rainbow trout polystyrene microplastics at three dietary concentrations for six weeks and assessed multiple health parameters. They found that the highest concentration triggered immune responses, liver and gill damage, disrupted antioxidant balance, and reduced plasma proteins. The study demonstrates that oral microplastic intake can negatively affect the health of freshwater fish across multiple organ systems.